2014: A Look Ahead in Advocacy

Permanent Repeal of the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR)

ACP will be working to advance its priorities with the three committees having jurisdiction over Medicare payment policy as they develop what will be a final reconciled SGR-repeal bill. The intent is to have a comprehensive SGR-repeal bill enacted into law as soon as possible in 2014, though no later than March 31, 2014, when the current SGR-patch expires.

Extending Medicaid Pay Parity

Current law states that physician payments for primary care services under Medicaid must be equal to those under Medicare in 2013 and 2014. With this provision of law expiring at the end of 2014, ACP will advocate for an extension of at least two years.

Implementation of the ACA will continue in 2014, including insurance coverage under the health care exchanges that began on January 1 and, on the state level, more states choosing to expand their Medicaid programs to cover more of the poor and near-poor. ACP will continue to advocate for successful implementation of these and other key provisions in the law, as well as address “nuts-and-bolts” implementation issues that directly affect physicians and their patients—such as narrow provider networks and restrictive drug formularies in some of the marketplace plans.

Supporting Vital Health Programs through Appropriations

Across-the-board sequester cuts in 2013 had a devastating impact on federal healthcare programs, including federal health workforce programs, medical research and public health programs. The bipartisan budget agreement, as enacted in December 2013, provides some much-needed respite from sequestration. Going forward, ACP will urge congressional appropriators to prioritize funding for the nation’s health care workforce in the Title VII Health Professions program, medical research at the National Institutes of Health, public health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, among others.

Advancing Medical Liability Reforms

ACP will continue working with key policymakers to advance meaningful medical liability reforms, including introduction of legislation based on ACP’s framework which would authorize a national pilot of health courts.

Addressing Administrative Complexities

ACP has long identified reducing administrative hassles and complexities as an important objective and while some incremental progress has been made in providing relief, administrative burden continues to be a significant challenge for practices. ACP’s campaign, which is expected to launch in the Spring of 2014, will educate policy makers, as well as ACP members, other physicians, and consumer advocates, on what makes up administrative challenges and why they are not all created equal—and will involve an advocacy effort to help mitigate or eliminate the top priority challenges that are identified.

Extending the Primary Care Incentive Program

Current law provides a 10 percent bonus payment, in addition to the usual Medicare fee schedule amount, for designated primary care services provided by internists, family physicians, geriatricians and pediatricians for calendar years 2011 through 2015. In order to qualify for the bonus, at least 60 percent of Medicare allowed charges of these physicians must consist of the designated primary care services: office, nursing facility, domiciliary, and home services. This important provision of law begins to address disparities in payments that are major barriers to physicians entering and remaining in primary care specialties. ACP will take necessary steps this year to ensure that lawmakers are fully aware of the importance of extending this program beyond its 2015 expiration date.

ACP Policies and Recommendations

This library is a collection of ACP's Clinical Guidelines, Ethical Guidelines, Policy Statements, and copies of testimony and letters to government and non-government officials.